稽古|けいこkeiko[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbpractice; practising; training; study
   彼女かのじょは六ろく歳さいでピアノのけいこを始はじめた。↗

   She began lessons in piano at age 6.

• Synonym練習れんしゅうNeutralThe all-purpose word for practice, with by far the widest use. 「稽古」 is mostly for martial arts, traditional arts and theater rehearsal.
• SynonymトレーニングNeutralA loanword for training aimed at fitness or a skill — workouts, conditioning. 「稽古」 is practice within an art or discipline, such as a martial art.
• Synonym演習えんしゅうNeutralDrills and exercises — 「軍事演習」 — or a university seminar course. 「稽古」 centers on practicing an art or skill, whether alone or with others.
• Synonym訓練くんれんNeutralOrganized, systematic training such as disaster drills. 「稽古」 leans toward practicing an art or craft.
• SynonymプラクティスCasualColloquial loanword for practice, heard mostly in golf and other sports. 「稽古」 sounds traditional by comparison.
• Synonym習練しゅうれんWrittenWritten word for repeated, disciplined practice. 「稽古」 is the more common choice in everyday use.
• Related養成ようせいWrittenWritten word for developing talent or ability up to a set level, such as training future professionals; 「稽古」 is the practice itself, done within an art or discipline.
• Related教習きょうしゅうNeutralStructured instruction in practical skills, notably at driving school. 「稽古」 is for traditional arts and crafts.
• Related練磨れんまWrittenWritten word for honing one's skills, as in 「百戦練磨」. Literary, unlike the everyday 「稽古」.
• RelatedおさらいNeutralGoing back over what you have already learned — review. 「稽古」 is regular, day-to-day practice itself.
• Related錬成れんせいWrittenWritten word for forging and developing people through hard training, with a spiritual-discipline nuance.
• RelatedエクササイズCasualAn everyday colloquial loanword for exercise and fitness workouts. 「稽古」 belongs to the martial and traditional arts.
• Related教練きょうれんWrittenOld-fashioned word for military or school drill — marching and formation training. Not used for art practice.
• Related温習おんしゅうWrittenWritten and rare: review or rehearsal of what was learned. 「稽古」 is the everyday practice itself.
• Related調練ちょうれんWrittenWritten, archaic word for the drill and training of soldiers. No connection to art practice.
• Related学修がくしゅうWrittenWritten and rare: pursuing a set course of study. In ordinary use 「学習」 is the standard word.
• Related演練えんれんWrittenWritten and rare: drills and exercises. 「稽古」 is personal practice of an art.
• Antonym本番ほんばんNeutralThe real performance, broadcast or match, as opposed to practice — the opposite of 「稽古」 in that sense.

Use 「稽古」 for practice in the traditional arts — martial arts, tea ceremony, sumo — and for theater rehearsal. For practice in general say 「練習」, for physical or skills training 「トレーニング」, for a fitness workout 「エクササイズ」, and for going over what you learned 「おさらい」. When it is the real performance or match, that is 「本番」. Narrower terms: 「訓練」 organized training, 「演習」 drills and seminars, 「教習」 driving instruction, 「養成」 developing people; 「習練」「錬成」「温習」 are rare and literary.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 昔むかしの事柄ことがらについて調しらべて考かんがえること。
2. 武道ぶどうや芸能げいのうなどを練習れんしゅうすること。